Here's a link to one of the songs in my orchestra performance last night. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYx6llyjWEQ

The 11 Elements of Eating (inspired by the 7 Elements of Art)

Flavor (Like that taste?)

Texture (Feels good going in?)

Coverage (How messy?)

Chewing (Fast or slow? Do your teeth have to tear and crush?)

Familiarity (Have you seen the food before?)

Satisfaction (Filled up? Want more?)

Nutritional Value (Healthy or junk?)

Environment (Where do you eat? At home? On the go? At a restaurant?)

Culture (What kind of food? Mexican? Asian? Italian?)

Size (How big are your portions?)

Temperature (Cold or hot? Heated or raw?)

(My dad helped me with some of the ideas above)

Have you ever wondered WHY we eat what we eat? In Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, And Wear Cows, social psychologist Melanie Joy addresses this subject. The traditions of eating meat and having dogs for pets have been in society for centuries, so we never really think about the fact that it doesn't make sense. Visit www.carnism.org for more information. 

Hi! I am now writing book reviews for children's literature on my Aunt Traci's blog. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://bookplusheart.weebly.com/childrens-lit          

The Scoop on SB277

     Governor Jerry Brown signed SB277 last month. This law, rumored to have originated from the measles outbreak at Disneyland last December, goes into effect on July 1st, 2016. It states that, in California, unless a child is proven by a doctor to have medical problems that prevent them from being able to have vaccinations, they must be up-to-date on all vaccines or they will not be allowed to go to school. So, the only ways to not be affected by this law are to acquire a medical exemption or to home-school. Many parents can't homeschool, too. Action must be taken to stop this law from going into effect. Parents should be allowed to choose what they think is best for their children. Also, the eradication of religious exemptions clearly violates the 1st Amendment. Many religions, like Jehovah's Witnesses, do not believe in vaccines. We must argue against this law before it affects many children and parents across the US.

Hi! Today in church I played my violin and sang with Dad while Aunt Brianne played the piano!             We hope that everyone felt closer to the Lord. All of you; good afternoon and have a good evening!

I wrote this story for a writing class where students get to write their own Just So Story like Rudyard Kipling. Enjoy.
                                 “How the Penguin Got its Flippers"

In the beginning of the Ice Age, in Antarctica, there was a Penguin of most independent thinking.  He loved to work, but he hated cooperating. When his Master asked him to find food, he went to do it gladly. But when Raccoon asked if he could go along, Penguin ignored him and flew away to find food alone (he was of most independent thinking). The animals were frequently, furiously frustrated because Penguin didn’t let them help him.

One day, while Penguin was out looking for food, his Master called all her animals together. “What has Penguin done to upset you?” she asked.

“He never lets me help him gather more animals to help us,” claimed Polar Bear.

“I never get to do anything, because you assigned me to work with Penguin,” complained Seal.

“And he won’t let me help him get food,” chimed in Raccoon.

“I will go talk to him,” said their Master. It did not work out well.

“Can you please stop being mean to your friends?” asked Master.

“What are you talking about?” asked Penguin.

“Your friends say that you don’t let them help you. They say you won’t cooperate,” she replied.

“Let’s not talk about it anymore,” said Penguin, turning red.

Master called another meeting. Everyone was present: Cat and Gnat, Raccoon and Baccoon,  Bear and Skair, Eel and Beel. They were all there. Only Penguin was absent. Master had been planning to talk to Penguin again, in front of everybody, so she called off the meeting.

A few days later, Penguin was flying gracefully through the thick, frigid air. He looked down and spotted Raccoon on the banks of a local lake. He was going to wade in it. He took a deep breath and stepped into the water.  But he did not realize that the lake was frozen, and his body weight was too much for the ice. A hole started forming quickly. Raccoon sunk fast.

Penguin wanted to save him, but his wings could not grasp very well.

Meanwhile, Master was reading Penguin’s mind. She realized that if Penguin was different, then maybe another animal could help him get Raccoon and he might accept the help. She thought some numbers: 5243 (that is Magic). There was a terrible Boom – Pop as Penguin’s wings exploded, then were replaced with black, floppy things – Flippers. Penguin plunged quickly down, down, down. He came down softly onto the white “blanket” below.

Penguin dived into the icy water. He spotted Raccoon, but Raccoon was unconscious and moving farther away. Penguin could swim fast now, but not fast enough. Then he spotted Angelfish a few feet away. Angelfish could swim around the lake in two seconds.

“Could you… help me?” asked Penguin, hesitating slightly (he had always been of most independent thinking).

“Of course,” Angelfish answered helpfully.

Angelfish propelled Penguin towards Raccoon.  Penguin managed to grab Raccoon’s paw.

Penguin thanked Angelfish and brought Raccoon back to their Master’s building.

Raccoon woke up a week later, perfectly well. On the other hand, Penguin wasn’t quite the same again. He never, ever more relied solely on his own independent thinking (or soared through the air with grace). And that is why the Penguin has flippers.